From feeding labourers on highways to providing for all the teachers who have helped him become the chef he is today, Vikas Khanna is working tirelessly to give back to his country

Vikas Khanna may be away from his home country, but that hasn’t stopped him from reaching out to its people in their time of need. This weekend, the chef who lives in New York, is organising the “world’s largest Eid feast” to feed two lakh people in Mumbai who have been affected by the pandemic.

“With your blessings and support, we are putting together the world’s largest Eid Feast #Eid2020,” Khanna wrote on Twitter, adding that he has collected over 100,000kg of dry ration, fresh fruits and dry fruits, spices, sugar, seviyan, kitchen utensils, oil, tea, coffee, juices and more.

Although Khanna cannot travel to India due to the travel restrictions, he has got all the support he needs, with individuals and organisations offering to provide essentials, raw materials and all sorts of help. Nearly 200 volunteers and personnel from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have been roped in to distribute the produce while adhering to all guidelines of social distancing. The food will be picked up from Haji Ali Dargah, where it will be loaded in trucks and distributed around Mohammed Ali Road, Dharavi and Mahim Dargah, Khanna wrote on Twitter.

6 million meals across 79 cities in India

Though this has been one of the most stressful days with so many deliveries falling apart and heartbreaking images of West Bengal. I wanted to share this video of our ration distribution in Batriloya Village, Bihar.Thank U all for your service to India. @Sanjay97odisha@NDRFHQpic.twitter.com/GLIeag9R4I

The 48-year-old chef, author and filmmaker has not just been feeding people in Mumbai, but has distributed 6 million meals across 79 cities in India in less than a month, with the help of local organisations in the city such as Sujata Buddha Welfare Society in Bodhgaya, Bihar. The ration includes 3,100 quintals of rice, lentils and wheat flour to orphanages and other old-age homes. He has been working round the clock to coordinate all the logistical requirements, including securing permits to transfer the supplies from one state to another, pick up and deliveries from wholesale vendors.

Khanna is also starting another initiative called “Fuel Stations to Food Stations”, as part of which food will be distributed on highways across India to feed migrant workers and labourers who are trekking across states to make their way home.

As the Sun rises over India, we are getting ready with thousands of meals and quintals of dry rations to be delivered to #FeedIndia#JaiHo#MaAnnapurna ❤️Saluting to the spirit of Heroes of NDRF who deliver with so much dignity n grace. Please lets applause together for them. pic.twitter.com/K6jnCeOnVS

Besides this, Khanna is also giving back to his teachers who have helped him become the successful chef he is today, reported PTI. He used social media to track down the masterchef who taught him how to make dibba rotti, a dish from Andhra Pradesh, many years ago. He has now supplied him with a year’s worth of ration. “I am focused on ensuring how to reach as many more people as possible to help them in these challenging times,” he said.

Before the world-renowned chef moved to the U.S. to pursue his big American dream, he learnt to cook at the Golden Temple in Amritsar. It, therefore, comes as no surprise that the act of feeding people in times of need comes so naturally to him.